Impact
Pompey did many things to benefit Rome. He won amazing victories alongside Sulla in Africa and Sicily. As mentioned earlier, during his time as commander of the Mediterranean, he rid the seas of the pirates that were interrupting Roman trade. He also vanquished Mithrades VI, king of Pontus, created an alliance with Tigranes, leader of Armenia. He conquered Jerusalem and took Syria as a Roman province. Although he did these many things that improved and expanded the empire, he eventually fell into fear against Caesar's power as his was diminishing, and sparked a civil war. Siding with the Senate, he forged alliances with members and declared that Caesar shall disband his army in Gaul (modern day France), where he currently was. Caesar, enraged at the Senate and refusing their declaration, he and his army crossed the Rubicon (49 BC) and made their way to Rome. This decision started a five-year war between two of Rome's most powerful figures. Caesar eventually won the war, causing Pompey to bolt and Caesar to chase after him. A year later Pompey lost another battle to Caesar at Pharsalus, causing once again Pompey to flee, this time to Egypt.